Treasures of the Bodleian

‘When in the twilit grove I wander’:
Fanny Hensel was a composer, choral director, scholar and celebrated pianist. Her fame was eclipsed by that of her brother, Felix Mendelssohn, and some of her four hundred works were published under his name. As a woman, Hensel’s musical genius was directed towards piano pieces and songs (such as this one for three voices) to be performed in domestic settings or private concerts. A career as professional composer was deemed unsuitable.